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New Delhi (4th April 2025): As on date, there are a total number of 74,306 Postgraduate seats and 1,18,190 MBBS seats in the country. As per information provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,86,150 registered allopathic doctors.
The Ministry of AYUSH has informed that there are 7,51,768 registered practitioners in the AYUSH system of medicine. Assuming that 80% of registered practitioners in both the allopathic and AYUSH systems are available, the doctor-population ratio in the country is estimated to be 1:811.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel stated in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on 1st April 2025.
The measures/steps taken by the Government to increase the doctor/medical professional in the country include as per their press release,
Centrally Sponsored Schemes
CRS for establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 131 new medical colleges are already functional out of 157 approved medical colleges.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.
PMSSY Scheme
Under “Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks” of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme, a total of 75 projects have been approved, of which 71 projects are complete.
AIIMS Scheme Saga
Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved. Undergraduate courses have been started in 19 of them.
Family Adoption Programme: A unnecessary Burden on MBBS Students?
The Family Adoption Programme (FAP) has been incorporated into the MBBS curriculum to provide equitable healthcare access to rural population. FAP involves medical colleges adopting villages, and MBBS students adopting families within these villages.
District Residency Programme
Under District Residency Program of NMC second/third year PG students of medical colleges are posted in district hospitals.
Hard area allowance is provided to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas and for their residential quarters.
Other Measures Taken
- Honorarium to Gynaecologists/Emergency Obstetric Care (EmoC) trained, Paediatricians & Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) trained doctors is provided to increase availability of specialists for conducting Cesarean Sections in rural & remote area.
- Special incentives for doctors and incentive for ANM for ensuring timely ANC checkup and recording, incentives for conducting Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health activities.
- States are allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibility in strategies such as “You Quote We Pay”.
- Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in postgraduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areas have also been introduced under NHM.
- Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists. Skill upgradation of existing HR is another major strategy under NRHM for achieving improvement in health outcomes.
The Medical Bulletin
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